Construction is finally moving forward at the former Vitamilk Dairy site, and the new building should be open by late 2013.
The east Green Lake property, frequently referred to by locals as “The Big Hole,” has been a vacant pit since development was stalled three years ago.
Located between Woodlawn Ave NE, NE 71st St, 5th Ave NE, and NE 72nd St, the site covers more than three acres of land.
The property developers, Lorig Associaties, originally planned at 120,000-square-foot, mixed-use project for the site. Plans for the development, called Park 71 @ Greenlake, included public plazas, approximately 480 apartments, more than 120,000 square feet of commercial space (which was to include a grocery store, restaurants, and retailers), and two levels of underground parking.
In 2008, the grocery store backed out. Without an anchor tenant, the project stalled. The property, which is privately owned by Vitamilk operators Teel Vander Pol & Teel LLP, has sat empty since then.
A new anchor tenant has been found for the site: PCC Natural Markets.
Ground breaking at the site, now being referred to as “Green Lake Village,” is targeted for this winter, and the new PCC is scheduled to open in late 2013.
The development will feature residential and retail space as well as public areas and underground parking.
Approximately 295 apartments will be constructed in five stories. “With demand for apartments increasing,” Jordan Malloch of Windermere Real Estate Green Lake tells us, ”soon there will not be enough supply. The time is right for a project like this in Green Lake.”
There will be 55,000 square feet of retail space below the residential floors, 25,000 of which will be occupied by the new PCC. The grocery store is expected to employ about 130 full and part-time employees.
“PCC is thrilled to be part of this exciting project in such a vibrant neighborhood,” Tracy Wolpert, PCC’s CEO said today (Wednesday, April 27, 2011).
There are currently nine Puget Sound PCC stores, including the Greenlake PCC in west Green Lake (7504 Aurora Ave N), which will remain open.
“We welcome PCC Natural Markets as an anchor retail tenant,” said Daryl Vander Pol of the Vitamilk family. “PCC has a solid reputation for operating beautiful and successful stores, and for being a good neighbor and partner in all the communities it serves.”
Seattle-based Velocipede Architects and Woodman Construction will be involved in the design and construction of the new PCC, which will incorporate many environmentally-friendly features and practices.
Thanks for the tip, James S. Cameron!
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Note — Updated information about Green Lake Village and the future PCC can be found here.
